Acts 10 :: English Standard Version (ESV)

Peter and Cornelius

Act 10:1At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of what was known as the Italian Cohort,

Act 10:2a devout man who feared God with all his household, gave alms generously to the people, and prayed continually to God.

Act 10:3

Act 10:3About the ninth hour of the day[fn] he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God come in and say to him, “Cornelius.”

Act 10:4

Act 10:4And he stared at him in terror and said, “What is it, Lord?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God.

Act 10:5

Act 10:5And now send men to Joppa and bring one Simon who is called Peter.

Act 10:6

Act 10:6He is lodging with one Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea.”

Act 10:7

Act 10:7When the angel who spoke to him had departed, he called two of his servants and a devout soldier from among those who attended him,

Act 10:8

Act 10:8and having related everything to them, he sent them to Joppa.

Peter’s Vision

Act 10:9

Act 10:9The next day, as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the housetop about the sixth hour[fn] to pray.

Act 10:10

Act 10:10And he became hungry and wanted something to eat, but while they were preparing it, he fell into a trance

Act 10:11

Act 10:11and saw the heavens opened and something like a great sheet descending, being let down by its four corners upon the earth.

Act 10:12

Act 10:12In it were all kinds of animals and reptiles and birds of the air.

Act 10:13

Act 10:13And there came a voice to him: “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.”

Act 10:14

Act 10:14But Peter said, “By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.”

Act 10:15

Act 10:15And the voice came to him again a second time, “What God has made clean, do not call common.”

Act 10:16

Act 10:16This happened three times, and the thing was taken up at once to heaven.

Act 10:17

Act 10:17Now while Peter was inwardly perplexed as to what the vision that he had seen might mean, behold, the men who were sent by Cornelius, having made inquiry for Simon’s house, stood at the gate

Act 10:18

Act 10:18and called out to ask whether Simon who was called Peter was lodging there.

Act 10:19

Act 10:19And while Peter was pondering the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are looking for you.

Act 10:20

Act 10:20Rise and go down and accompany them without hesitation,[fn] for I have sent them.”

Act 10:21

Act 10:21And Peter went down to the men and said, “I am the one you are looking for. What is the reason for your coming?”

Act 10:22

Act 10:22And they said, “Cornelius, a centurion, an upright and God-fearing man, who is well spoken of by the whole Jewish nation, was directed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house and to hear what you have to say.”

Act 10:23

Act 10:23So he invited them in to be his guests. The next day he rose and went away with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa accompanied him.

Act 10:24

Act 10:24And on the following day they entered Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends.

Act 10:25

Act 10:25When Peter entered, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him.

Act 10:26

Act 10:26But Peter lifted him up, saying, “Stand up; I too am a man.”

Act 10:27

Act 10:27And as he talked with him, he went in and found many persons gathered.

Act 10:28

Act 10:28And he said to them, “You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with or to visit anyone of another nation, but God has shown me that I should not call any person common or unclean.

Act 10:29

Act 10:29So when I was sent for, I came without objection. I ask then why you sent for me.”

Act 10:30

Act 10:30And Cornelius said, “Four days ago, about this hour, I was praying in my house at the ninth hour,[fn] and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing

Act 10:31

Act 10:31and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your alms have been remembered before God.

Act 10:32

Act 10:32Send therefore to Joppa and ask for Simon who is called Peter. He is lodging in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea.’

Act 10:33

Act 10:33So I sent for you at once, and you have been kind enough to come. Now therefore we are all here in the presence of God to hear all that you have been commanded by the Lord.”

Gentiles Hear the Good News

Act 10:34

Act 10:34So Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality,

Act 10:35

Act 10:35but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.

Act 10:36

Act 10:36As for the word that he sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace through Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all),

Act 10:37

Act 10:37you yourselves know what happened throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism that John proclaimed:

Act 10:38

Act 10:38how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.

Act 10:39

Act 10:39And we are witnesses of all that he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree,

Act 10:40

Act 10:40but God raised him on the third day and made him to appear,

Act 10:41

Act 10:41not to all the people but to us who had been chosen by God as witnesses, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.

Act 10:42

Act 10:42And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead.

Act 10:43

Act 10:43To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”

The Holy Spirit Falls on the Gentiles

Act 10:44

Act 10:44While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word.

Act 10:45

Act 10:45And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles.

Act 10:46

Act 10:46For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter declared,

Act 10:47

Act 10:47“Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?”

Act 10:48

Act 10:48And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to remain for some days.

See the ESV Preface (Especially for Parenthesis, Brackets, & Asterisks).

ESV Footnotes

(10:3)

That is, 3 p.m.

(10:9)

That is, noon

(10:20)

Or accompany them, making no distinction

(10:30)

That is, 3 p.m.

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For more information on this translation, see the ESV Preface.

Acts Chapter 10 — Additional Translations:

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